Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. MQFARLANE,

OAR COUPLING.

No. 487,424. Patented Dec. 6, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MCFARLANE, OF WVIOTA, \VISGONSIN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,424, dated December 6, 1892.

Application filed March 15, 1892. Serial No. 425.010- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN MCFARLANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wiota, in the county of La Fayette and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Car- Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in car-couplings.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of carconplings and to provide one which may be readily coupled and uncoupled without neces sitating a person passing between the cars.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying, drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-coupling embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of a cornerof the car, showing the ratchet.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a draw-bar having a draw-head 2, formed by diverging bumper portions 3 and provided with a vertical pin-opening 4,

I in which is arranged a spring-actuated coupling-pin 5, adapted to be held elevated against the action of the spring and to be tripped when two cars come together to couple the cars automatically. The spring-actuated pin is arranged in a casing 6 and is provided on its rear face with teeth 7, which form a rack and which are adapted to mesh with a pinion 8 of .a crank-shaft 9, which is provided at one end with a hand-wheel 10, so that the coupling-pin may be elevated for coupling from the side of a car, and which is provided intermediate its ends with a crank-bend 11, connected to the lower end of a rod 12, extending to the top of the car, so that the coupling-pin may be elevated preparatory to coupling from that point. The cran k-shaft is connected with a coiled spring 13, mounted on the casing and secured to the same, and as the shaft turns for elevating the coupling-pin the spring is wound, on the shaft, and when the pin is tripped by the cars coming together the spring rotates the crank-shaft to cause the couplingpin to descend to couple the cars. At one end of the crank-shaft is secured a notched disk 14, which is engaged when the couplingpin is elevated by a projection of a vertically-movable plate 16, which is arranged on the casing and the draw-head to hold the shaft against rotation by the spring until the cars come together. The vertically-movable plate is raised to allow the pin to descend by apivoted trip 17, arranged in the opening between the bumper portion of the draw-head and adapted to be engaged by a pivoted link or clevis 18. The projection is held in engagement with the notch of the disk by a springplate 19, which is mounted on the casing and arranged above the projection. The springplate 19 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a lug 20 and has one end bearing against the projection and its other end bearing against a spring 21, which is arranged on a bracket-plate 22 and which is disposed on a stem 23. The link or clevis is approximately U-sh'aped and is mounted on a shaft 24:,which is journaled in suitable bearings and which passes through an opening in the draw-head, the sides of the link being arranged on opposite sides of the draw-head. The shaft 24 is provided at one end with a lever 25, arranged on the side of the car and having a limited movement, so that it may readily engage a ratchet 26, secured to the car. The lever is adapted to turn the shaft to raise the link or clevis to the proper elevation for coupling, and when the cars are coupled the link of one of them is held downward in a vertical position, out of the way, by means ofthe lever 25 engaging a notch of the ratchet 26.

It will be seen that this car-coupling is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction; that by it cars are adapted to couple automatically and may be readily uncoupled from the top of a car, and that trains may be made up in a short time.

What I claim is 1. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head, a pin mounted in the draw-head and provided with ratchetteeth, a shaft, a pinion mounted on the shaft and meshing TOC with the teeth of the pin, a coiled spring connected with the shaft, and means for holding the pin elevated against the action of the spring and for tripping the pin, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw -head having a pin opening, a casing mounted on the draw-head, a coupling-pin arranged in the casing and provided with ratchet-teeth, a shaft journaled in the casing, a pinion mounted on the shaft and meshing with the teeth of the pin, a coiled spring connected with the shaft, a notched disk secured to the shaft and arranged at one side of the casing, and a vertically-movable plate having a projection arranged to engage the notched disk to hold the coupling-pin elevated, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head having a pin -opening, a casing mounted on the draw-head, a coupling-pin arranged in the casing and provided with ratchet-teeth, a shaft journaled in the casing, a ratchet-wheel carried by the shaft and meshing with the teeth of the pin, a coiled spring connected with the shaft, a notched disk carried by the shaft, a vertically-movable plate provided with a projection adapted to engage the notched disk to hold the coupling-pin elevated,anda trip connected with the plate and arranged to be engaged by the link of an approaching car to release the coupling-pin, substantially as described.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination of a drawhead having a pin opening, a casing mounted on the draw-head, acoupling-pin arranged in the casin g and provided with ratchet-teeth, a shaft journaled in the casing, a pinion mounted on the shaft and meshing with the teeth of the pin, a coiled spring connected with the shaft, a notched disk secured to theshaft and arranged at one side of the casing, a vertically-movable plate having a projection arranged to engage the notched disk, and a spring-pressed plate engaging the projection to hold the same in engagement with the disk, substantially as described.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head having the diverging bumper portions, a U shaped link having its sides arranged on the sides of the draw-head, a shaft carrying the link, a coupling-pin provided with a ratchet, a shaft carryinga pinion meshing with the ratchet, a spring for causing the coupling-pin to descend, means for holding the couplingpin elevated against the action of the spring, and a trip arranged between the bumper portions to release the coupling-pin and adapted to be engaged and operated by the link, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN MCFARLANE.

\Vitnesses:

J. M. MILBOURN, J. E. COLLINSWORTH. 

